Finger-exercising device.



No. 806,681. PATBNTED DEG. 5, 1905. E. B. KURSHEEDT.

FINGER EXBRGISING DEVICE.

APPLIUATION FILED Amm. 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FINGER-EXERCISING DEVICE..

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, l905- Application led August S, 1905. Serial No. 272,480.

sex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Finger- Exercising Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to a novel Alinger-exercising device or hand-expander, and relates particularly to a novel device for exercising and spreading the fingers for the purpose of making them nimble and increasing their lateral reach, which is desirable for playing musical instruments, particularly pianos and string' instruments. Vhen a pupil starts to take lessons in piano-playing, then the fingers are rather stiff and their lateral reach is limited. By continued practice and playing the fingers become nimble, quicklymoving, and their lateral reach is greatly extended in the course of time. However, it may take several years to accomplish this result.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a finger-exercising device or hand-expander by the use of which the fingers will attain the same nimbleness, agility, and extended lateral reach within a few weeks which formerly required several years. l

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l illustrates in top plan view a finger-exercising device which embodies my invention. Fig. 2 represents the device in front elevation. Fig. 3 shows in side elevation a finger-plate, and Eig. 4 illustrates same in front elevation.

Similar characters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

The finger-exercising device consists, essentially, of a strong base-plate e, which is preferably made of metal and may be electroplated, so as to enhance its appearance. The base-plate a, however, may also be made of wood or rubber compositions and the like and then polished. The base-plate rests on a number of short supports which have rubber buttons c at the bottom, so as not to injure, for instance, a table on which it is placed. Three or more supports are provided. In Eig. 2 of the drawings four such supports are illustrated. The plate a is provided with a large number of openings CZ, arranged in segmental and parallel series. Three of such series e f g are illustrated in Fig. l; but four or ive series of openings are quite often provided on the plate in accordance with the size of the plate and the size of the hand to be exercised. In the rear center portion of the plate and parallel to its sides there are a number of openings t, which have each a screw-thread. A knob z', having' a central screw j, is inserted into one of the openings /t and screwed tight. This knob t' forms a support or rest for the hand during the exercising of the fingers. The screw Lfof the knob fits every opening It, and therefore the knob is an adjustable support for the hand. For large hands it is placed, for instance, in thelast opening zv in the rear of the plate, in which it is shown on the drawings. For small hands it is moved farther in, closer to the series of segmental and parallel openings.

In addition to the above-described parts the device is provided with a number of finger plates or keys it, of which tive are usually employed. These plates are generally made of the same material as the base-plate, but preferably of metal. Each finger plate or key consists of the plate proper, @which is flat in the rear and has a slightly-curved surface m in the front. On the lower center rear portion of the plate Z there is a piece n, prefer. ably cast thereon, and thus integral therewith, or, if desired, this piece may be soldered to the plate. The piece n extends vertically up and has a smooth top and bottom surface. Through the piece n there is a vertical opening in which a pin 0 is permanently secured. The pin o extends downwardly beyond the finger-plate. By means of this pin 0 the finger-plate may be secured in any of the openings CZ of the base-plate a, as shown in Fig. l. The pin passes through the opening` (Z and the lower surface of the piece a, as well as the lower surface p of the finger-plate proper, supports the finger-plate substantially on the base-plate a. By inserting the finger-plates close together and in the inner series g of segmental and parallel openings the hand of a child may be exercised. In subsequent exercises the finger-plates are gradually set farther apart. For a large hand the fingerplates are accordingly inserted in the baseplate at greater distances from each other.

In operating the device the finger-plates are iirst inserted at a suitable kdistance from each other. Then the hand is placed on the supporting-knob and the fingers rested against the slightly-curved surface of the plate proper in the manner indicated in Fig. l.

lOO

IIO

This novel finger-exercising device may be made very plainly and of inexpensive material, so as to manufacture it very cheaply, but it may also be made of expensive material, in elaborate style, and high finish, so as to produce a more beautiful apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentv l. A finger-exercising device or hand-expander comprisinga base-plate, a large number of openings therein arranged in a plurality of segmental and parallel series, and a number of independent finger plates or keys each adapted to be set in one of the openings in the base-plate.

2. A finger-exercising device or hand-expander comprising a base-plate, supports secured thereto having rubber buttons at the bottom, a large number of openings in the front portion of said base-plate arranged in a plurality of segmental and parallel series, and a number of independent finger plates or keys each adapted to be set in one of the openings in the base-plate.

3. A iinger-exercising device or hand-expander comprisingl a base-plate, a large number of openings in its front portion arranged in a plurality of segmental and parallel series, a plurality of threaded openings in the rear center portion of the base-plate, an adjustable hand -support or knob with central screw adapted to be applied in each of the threaded openings, and a number of linger-plates each adapted to be set in one of the openings in the front portion of the base-plate.

4. A finger-exercising device comprising a base-plate, supports secured thereto having each a rubber button at the bottom, a large number of openings in the front portion of said base-plate arranged in a plurality of segmental and parallel series, and a number of threaded openings in the rear center portion of the base-plate, an adjustable hand-support or knob with central screw adapted to be secured in each of the threaded openings, and a number of linger-plates each adapted to be set in one of the openings in the front portion of the base-plate.

5. A linger-exercising device comprising a base-plate, having supports below, a large number of openings in the front portion, and a plurality of threaded openings in the rear center portion, an adjustable hand-support or knob with central screw adapted to be applied in each of the threaded openings, and a plurality of finger-plates each adapted to be set in one of the openings in the front portion of the base-plate.

6. A finger-exercising device comprising a baseplate with openings in the front portion, threaded openings in its rear center portion, an adjustable hand-support adapted to be applied in the threaded openings, and a number of finger-plates consisting each of the lingerplate proper having a slightly-curved front portion, an integral piece on its lower rear surface in the center, and a pin in said piece extending downwardly and adapted to be inserted in the front openings of the base-plate.

7. A finger-exercising device comprising a base-plate with supports below, openings in the front portion, threaded openings in its rear center portion, an adjustable hand-support adapted to be applied in the threaded openings and a number of finger-.plates consisting each of the inger plate proper having a slightlyfcurved front surfaceq an integral piece on its lower rear surface in the center, and a pin in said piece extending downwardly and adapted to be inserted in the front open EDMUND B. KURSHEEDT.

lVitnesses:

LUDWIG K. BHM, F. W. ELLIOTT. 

